As we mentioned in our previous blog “Gambling Habits Between Men and Women” we acknowledged gender differences in gambling habits. Today we will be discussing in further details about gender differences in risk perception and how it affects their behaviors while gambling.
Majority of the world domain perceives men to be more engaged in riskier behaviors than women. To examine some of the beliefs and preferences that underlie this difference. An assessment based on their likelihood of engaging various risky activities, with a total of 657 participants reported their perceptions of (1) Enjoyment Level Towards Risky Activities (2) Probability of Negative Outcomes (3) A Mutual Positive Domain. Let OMNI GAMING break it down for you of the gender differences when it comes to risk perception.
Enjoyment Level Towards Risky Activities
There is a huge range of risky activities, however, today we will focus on the risky activities of gambling, and how different gender respond to the gambling aspect of risks and their enjoyment level towards it.
When it comes to engaging towards gambling, it was shown in the assessment studies that men have a higher chance of alluring themselves into these circumstances. By this assessment, it’s safe to say that men’s risk perception towards gambling is rather pleasurable since they do not go to great length of avoidance but embracing it with open arms. Based on the ratings in the studies it supports to this statement, it also points out some interesting behavior activities.
Apparently, men often savor about boasting their winnings to others when gambling and have a higher chance of showing aggressive behaviors; such as angrily groaning aloud, playing aggressively or even at times clouting the machines and blaming the venue when loosing.
On the other hand, women’s gambling risk perception, as a result, points majorly to negative consequences more and less enjoyable compared to men. Another drastic difference in behavior, supposedly why women favor EGMs (Electronic Game Machines) because it’s a form of emotion-based and avoidance to cope with temporarily distressing emotions. This may explain why women have a higher chance of showing visible signs of distress when loosing; often forms of crying or other signs of sadness.
The Probability of Negative Outcomes
As studies have shown women tend to associate negative outcomes with the probability of risky behaviors which may lead to more severe consequences. Which is why women find risky behavior to be less enjoyable compared to men. However, a separate analysis revealed another perception to a more positive response towards women taking a risk.
Apparently, anything that shows a sign of higher probability estimation to positive consequences is definitely a more favorable risk activity women is willing to engage. For example, when it comes to social risks, individualism among their friends or disagreeing on a major issue with their parent’s women tend to have a higher propensity. Because the behavior choice offers a more substantial gain that imposes a relative risk that women will most likely be taken.
Perhaps why through another data analysis, it shows most of the women favoring more towards nonstrategic, and less inter-personally interactive forms of gambling such as slot machines or bingo.
Contrarily, men’s probability of negative outcomes towards gambling is relatively small, they have a greater propensity towards risk perception because they find the process of gambling to be quite an enjoyable. The report also shows the significantly greater propensity of risk in particular circumstances such as defending upon an unpopular issue or asking someone on a date or even arguing with a friend.
So, this raises another question, what is it about gambling that men find it so appealing? With another data analysis, supporting that men tend to find strategic or face to face forms of gambling to be more captivating for them; such as poker or blackjack. They also like to emphasize in applying skills when gambling, to try and beat the odds. Perhaps why they have stronger physical reactions due to the strong expectations they have set upon themselves, men can also be quite territorial, and claim EGMs or even act impolitely towards staff in the venue.
A Mutual Positive Domain
There is one category of a real-world behavior that mirrors the definition of the positive domain for both men and women in gambling, and that is the purchasing of lottery tickets. A research survey shows that while men purchase more lottery than women, the total spending of women is significantly greater than men.
Women are more willing to pay a small cost for a chance of positive domain outcomes, however, may be reluctant to do so if the potential cost is too high (i.e. the possibility of losing a full day’s or weeks’ worth of income). This shows that to engage a women’s attention in gambling, approaches such as lottery, slot game or bingo will defiantly be a better avenue.
Nonetheless, men’s perception of risk in gambling comes in scenarios that involve higher potential risks and big rewards. So, to have a more positive gambling effect towards men, making the game more logical, or strategic games can intrigue men’s instinct of wanting to beat the odds, and challenge them while having a ridiculous grand prize that’s waiting for them.
Overall the cause of risky choice, or “risk as a feeling” is due to the higher probabilities to negative outcomes that indicate the outcomes to be severe. Each gender appears a different type of positive correlation, in their own ways. But most importantly if they enjoy the process of the game, they will move toward perceiving this game as a low-risk game with benefits, and if they dislike it will be perceived as a high risk with low benefit, even extend to the feeling of being tricked.
Summary
Despite presenting partial domains that support the gender differences’ perception of risk in this article. There are yet more to discover in the subject of gender differences’ in gambling. Further details such as how certain color, music, effect or design are also important factors as well.
Overall the main purpose of this article is to understand the “why” of each gender’s perception of risk. Women are more cautious when it comes to gambling and enjoys a lot of nonstrategic games with a smaller wager. On the other hand, men are defiantly familiar with the idea of risk and enjoy greatly when the wins are substantial and could be calculated or perhaps even challenge them.
Understand your market and strategist your game based on the gender differences could be a great help in your game. Knowing when to lesson each gender’s perception of risk or use risk to capture their attention is defiantly a good strategy to keep them entertained for a long time.
Reference: Judgment and Decision Making, Vol. 1, No. 1, July 2006, pp. 48–63; Gender Differences in Risk Assessment: Why do Women Take Fewer Risks than Men? Christine R. Harris¤, Michael Jenkins University of California, San Diego and Dale Glaser Glaser Consulting Firm, San Diego Am J Psychiatry 158:9, September 2001 Gender-Related Differences in the Characteristics of Problem Gamblers Using a Gambling Helpline J Gambl Stud (2018) 34:119–132 Gender Differences in the Presentation of Observable Risk Indicators of Problem Gambling
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